http://road.cc/content/poll/13752-whats-thing-most-irritates-you-about-other-cyclists
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"What, if anything, most irritates you about other cyclists?"
(58 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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cyclists who can't be bothered to signal. not as bad as drivers, obviously, but still annoying
Posted 14 years ago # -
Red light jumpers, there are no excuses, and it gives the rest of us a bad name.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Yes I would concur red light jumpers. Worst still are those younger cyclists who judge that because you look like you're over a certain age, not sure what that would be just not the same as them, that you're bound to be slow and doddery and therefore need to be overtaken whilst you're sitting waiting for lights to change, coming up on your outside, middle of the road, blocking the traffic and annoying the drivers, doing all that fancy balancing crap, and when the lights do change shoot off but are not quite as quick as they think they are, block your path and you are forced to sit behind them, well I give no quarter mate, I will make you work your sweet butt off, pedal harder than you would like, because you know what I actually put more miles under my wheels and despite your age and mine, I am a sight fitter than you.....I will chase you up the road, and they will know that I am right on their tail due to the whistling, singing or generally coughing, as well as the clicking through the gears. Aggressive you may say, but you know what, I don't care because they cheese me off hugely and in actual fact are behaving dangerously and without due consideration for other cyclists. No respect the youf of today!! Yes I am competitive and I used to be very fast in my day. Perhaps I am the equivalent of the (usually male) middle-aged, mid-life crisis, sports car owner....LOL.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I have also on occasion been known not to let them in so that they have to go behind me, when they have taken the outside position thinking that they can burn me off, their choice, either get mown down by the car driver that they cut up or go behind....Yes I know, I'm being belligerent, patience is a virtue and they need to learn it....like I say the youf of today, no manners, no respect!!!
Posted 14 years ago # -
@Liz looks like you should join this -
Posted 14 years ago # -
Not really noticed a problem with pavement cycling, not like when I lived in south London, and it seems to be mostly children here, which is fair enough and they are allowed to. Those irresponsible enough to cycle without brakes deserve whatever comes their way, just plain stupidity, as well as those without lights, should they get run over and killed, then the motorist who is traumatised by what has happened can justifiably say they never saw the cyclist, just as it is the car drivers responsibility to have insurance, and a working car, that means all lights, indicators, the lot, so the onus is on the bike rider to comply with the laws/rules of the road as a vehicle.
Posted 14 years ago # -
chdot, as you are probably aware I am a member of a prestigious and very old cycling club already, with a far longer history than that of the Edinburgh Road Club. Perhaps I could give some of them a lesson in road manners though, and maybe they could take a leaf out of road etiquette rules about cycling in large numbers.... Also as I did say I am not as fast as I used to be by any means....a long smoking history, a habit which I have thankfully kicked to the kerb, for a number of years now, and perhaps my one regret in life would be that I did not pack it in many years earlier, and like many converts to not smoking am so anti and take every opportunity to preach to the still smoking, I think it is completely disgusting and wonder how I ever smoked for so long frankly.
Posted 14 years ago # -
@Liz how about this then -
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=285
The idea is to compete against yourself.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I did consider this, I would have to forego the usual Saturday ride....this is about 65 mls in total, most of which I have covered one way or another, and the worst bit would be going up to Whiteadder....I know that it would give me an idea of just how good or bad I was, or perhaps I would just have to settle for mediocrity which would be painful!! LOL. I live in the hope that it is Valentine's day and perhaps I would not be able to get out of my front door after the pantechnicon which had been driven by the postal person who delivered all the mail, ohh damn it is a Sunday, foiled again.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Liz, try doing it with a 3 year old in childseat. Everyone assumes you are slow out of intersection. VERY frustrating, especially when you pass them down the road...Bah! Not that I move particularly fast, but somehow 'lady on bike with child' makes even quite considerate cyclists behave silly.
Posted 14 years ago # -
My pet hate is when I stop at the red light at the top (north) end of middle meadow walk, and everybody else tries to force their way around me. Admittedly it is a pretty stupid light (because it's only red to allow cyclists on the island to cross) but still.
Otherwise my #1 complaint is people who cycle too close to the side of the road. When I'm on the bike this is just a minor irritation but when driving, I find it most infuriating. Honestly sometimes I can't understand how they manage not to be killed en-masse.
Hmm, although there are the odd whiners on the cycle path who complain even though I literally have my light shining on the front tyre...
Seems like quite a lot of complaints actually, I'll stop now! :)
Posted 14 years ago # -
Dear annoying cyclist, when I stop at the front of a queue at the traffic lights, and I sit in primary position because I'm going straight on, please don't sidle up behind me and then sit in the secondary position, several feet in front of the white line. I call that 'pushing in', and it also irritates me when your questionable headstart gets you to the parked car on the other side of the junction first and then you fail to check over your right shoulder when the faster cyclist is about to overtake you, but who anticipated your move and held primary 20 yards earlier.
Actually, that's probably my most common irritation: cyclists not checking behind before making a manoeuvre.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I would just like to point out that the correct position when waiting at a red traffic light is in the primary position just behind the advanced stop line. Even if you are planning to turn left, the reason being that it stops driver from passing then turning left on top of you.
That is today's safe cycling tip.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Inside ring on the front, outside sprocket on the back.
Fully suspended mountain bikes for under £100.
No brakes and the straddle cable hanging loose.
Asking me if it's hard to pedal something with such small wheels.
Asking me how many gears I have and laughing when the answer is 2 or 6.
Asking me how much it cost and telling me I could have got a car for that money.
Posted 14 years ago # -
laughing when the answer is 2 or 6
Well if you don't know the answer no wonder they laugh. ;-)
Posted 14 years ago # -
"Well if you don't know the answer no wonder they laugh. ;-)"
14 or fewer is usually the right answer for me.
Posted 14 years ago # -
All of the above, plus trivial things like:
1) not having their tyres pumped up properly
2) having their seat too low
3) cyclists with mirrors on helmets or handlebars - I find it near impossible trying to predict what they might do
4) cycling about with empty child seats - why??? can't you leave it at the nursery?
5) not wearing their helmet properly - either don't wear one or put it on right FFS
6) people trackstanding - they're just show offs!I have a lot of issues.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I've got a 1 speed too on the old Claud Butler. I used it all the time till about 1993 but at the moment it is in my dad's loft. I used it in school, when I lived in London and when I was on the bru in Glasgow.
It has a fixed wheel (and a front brake).
I guess that's another thing to be annoyed about, I learned to ride on a fixed wheel Triang when I was three and I didn't know it was going to be trendy 40 years later. I used a fixed wheel in school because it teaches you how to pedal smoothly and people couldn't pinch my bike as easily at lunchtime. And now it's fashionable.
Everything old is new again.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I am so pleased to know that there is a term for the irritating behaviour I had complained about, known as shoaling, most illuminating, and glad to see that I am not the only one it annoys. How someone has their bike set up does not actually bother me, but think that they probably just don't know any better, but as for the comment about leaving the child seat at the nursery, this is not a practical suggestion as they are usually bolted on for a very good reason i.e child safety, and actually it does not annoy me, I just feel sorry for the parent having to cycle around with it, but I am sure they are relieved not having a further stone or two to cart around, have a heart!!! Perhaps if you think someone could improve their cycling ability or technique by raising their saddle or somesuch to prevent possible injury then I think you should pass your knowledge on if practicable or you think that they may be approachable, because some people would actually thank you for your advice.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"I think you should pass your knowledge on if practicable or you think that they may be approachable, because some people would actually thank you for your advice."
Last year I followed a young guy in London in heavy traffic (including Euston Road). He was on a half-decent racer but he certainly didn't look comfortable, and moving his hands from the top of the drops down every time he braked certainly wasn't safe.
So at the next lights I started a conversation (that surprised him - well it was London) and suggested he rode 'on the hoods'. The bike was new/good enough that the braking should have been OK. He admitted he hadn't had the bike long and was a bit nervous in traffic. He was slightly bemused but grateful enough...
Not sure I'd have done the same here, where there would be a chance of meeting the same person again.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Hi Liz, sorry if I came across as heartless, I am anything but. Anyway, about the child seats - most child seats can be detached quite quickly with the touch of a button. My Hamax one certainly does and the ones I see being ridden without an occupant are usually of that type. No excuses!!! ;-)
Posted 14 years ago # -
most of the above, I think it tens to be folk who cycle once a blue moon who do most of em
bike ninjas,
lack of eye contact or acknowledgement from other cyclist when you slow down on approach to allow them to pass a walker etc, utlta bright lights right in the eyes on a cycle track while it's still bright.
trackstanding actually makes sense if you know the lights changing in 2 tics and it's more effort to clip out, I find overshoes(my) can come loose over the toe using toeclips and next thing I have wet feet, trackstanding stops it happening. but some folk are just showoffs, never in lycra pleeeaaaseeeeeeeee.
Posted 14 years ago # -
chdot I quite often engage other cyclists in conversation here in Edinburgh whilst at lights chatting about the weather etc., I must say that I have not seen any of them again or perhaps they have seen me and gone hell for leather to get away from that obviously MAD woman. I see one guy regularly in the mornings on the way to work and we always nod or acknowledge one another even though we are going in opposite directions.
Miggy - it is so long since I had anything to do with child seats and had a seat that fitted on the crossbar with foot rest of the downtube, so I was unaware that the cumbersome things that I see on the back had become so sophisticated as to have a quick release mechanism. I know that I would certainly shed it if I could or had the facilities to leave it safely but do understand, as they are not cheap, if the parent did not feel it safe to leave...I cannot say I pay particular attention to what other cyclists do if they are not hampering my progress, being dangerous to me more specifically, if their pannier straps are not done up I will tell them, I have forgotten myself and have been grateful to be told before they have ended up in my spokes necessitating a sudden surprise stop or precipitating an accident. I am too bothered about watching out for potholes, craters, and/or eejit motorists, who are far more likely to cause me to crash or to be killed. Group cycling is an art and requires practice and you do learn from others if you're prepared to listen and the information may be invaluable. Also I think some people just have no road sense at all, and never will have and somehow just cannot grasp the concept of manners, courtesy, road positioning, developing the skill of looking ahead and therefore thinking ahead, they are just not up to the task, and worryingly this applies to a great many car drivers. I can drive and my driving instructor told me to think of the car as a potential lethal weapon, you can kill people with it, and it should be treated with respect, which you should afford to other road users.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"...think of the car as a potential lethal weapon, you can kill people with it..."
Video
Posted 14 years ago # -
Ridiculous really, only points on your licence and a fine if you've killed someone with a car, no mention here of a life ban or indeed a ban at all, think if it had been a gun, also a lethal weapon, which may or may not be licenced, you would be looking at a gaol sentence for murder or killing someone. Driving without insurance should automatically, if you're caught, be dealt with by imposing either a swingeing fine or a few days in nick, and a ban. Should this also extend to having no current MOT or vehicle exercise tax, yes....it means that your vehicle may very well be unroadworthy and therefore dangerous. As well as being driven by a complete eejit who has no regard to concern about anyone else, and if they cannot afford to run a car should not have one.
Posted 14 years ago # -
There is something very wrong with our society, a licence to drive should not be a licence to kill.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I do usually leave childseat at nursery BUT not all come off that easily (mine does in theory but not always in practice) and they can be _very_ useful for carrying groceries too!
Posted 14 years ago # -
If I had a child seat I'm not sure I'd ever take it off - it's a psychological weapon against drivers sans-compare...
Posted 14 years ago #
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